Many of us are surrounded by gambling all day. The last thing some of us want to do when we get off work is to head back to a casino to gamble for “relaxation.” But there is a large contingent of folks in the casino business who enjoy their jobs exactly because they enjoy gambling. It’s a fascination for some; a way of life for others.

Watching other people gamble makes some of us believe that we know the games better than our customers. We see them make mistakes we know we wouldn’t make. We see them use strategies that we know from experience cannot succeed. And we’re sure we can do better, especially if we hit one of the “streaks” that so many of our customers seem to miss.

But we also see players who seem to be possessed when they gamble. They sweat the money. They get ultra-upset when they lose. Or they get quiet or begin to mutter to themselves.

Now, none of these behaviors is a clear indication that any given player is a problem gambler, but we know that we would never let it affect us that way.

But when we ourselves gamble, it’s important to remember the things which are clear to us while we’re on the other side of the table, slot or video poker machine. The experience of gambling can give you momentary or permanent amnesia if you aren’t aware of what’s going on. So here are five suggestions to ensure that your gambling experience is a pleasant one—one that focuses on entertainment and doesn’t turn you into one of those zombies who never seem to clear your work area.

1. Plan your gaming experience.
There are plenty of books that will teach you about each game. Even if you know how to deal each game, that doesn’t mean you understand it. There are plenty of tricks of the trade you can discover by reading the experts. Know your limits. Understand the games you enjoy. Remain rational and avoid getting emotional. Ease up on the alcohol when you gamble as that could impair your judgment.

2. Use money management.
You normally have a good idea how long you’re going to be gambling. If you want your gambling budget to last as long as your night, figure out how much you can afford to lose every hour. For example, if you’ve got a $100 gambling budget and you’ll be playing for five hours, break that $100 into five $20 bills. Take the first Jackson and don’t cash the second until at least one hour has passed, regardless if you lost the first $20 in 10 minutes. Budget $20 per hour and you’ll still be in action as the night winds down. Don’t let your money management system entail playing until you lose everything you have.

3. Set a win goal and stick to it.
OK, back to that original $100. If, after all is said and done, you’d be very happy doubling your money (good luck!), use that as a goal. As soon as you hit it, quit! Even if you hit it in the first 10 minutes, put the extra $100 in your pocket. You can walk home a winner and tell everybody on the floor tomorrow you beat the casino. Try to be even more realistic— quit when you win $50. You’ve still gotten the best of it. Take that home and brag to your colleagues in the morning that you beat the house.

4. Don’t gamble more than you can afford.
We’ve all seen this one before: the players who tap the ATM when they go through their original bankroll. Or they bum an extra couple of hundred (thousand?) from their spouse to continue their losing streak. Or even worse, ask for yet another marker when you want to scream at them to stop chasing their loses. Remember, gambling is entertainment and only remains entertainment as long as you use the money you can afford to lose and have fun doing it. Once you start to dig into the rent money or the grocery money, you’re playing with fire.

5. Know your game.
Sure, everyone can get lucky. There are lottery players who scoop up jackpots in the tens of millions of dollars. Someone’s got to win it, why shouldn’t it be you? That’s the flawed logic most people use; this, despite the astronomical odds against winning, as well as the extremely low payouts associated with all lotteries. While there is no lottery in Nevada, there are plenty of casino games that have odds almost as bad. Keno, bingo, slot machines, “bonus bets,” and even roulette, baccarat and craps are games that in most instances should be avoided. Blackjack, video poker, race and sports betting and poker are the only games where the player can actually achieve an edge over the casino in special circumstances. If you choose one of the other games that are fun to play but have an intrinsic house edge, understand how the house edge works against you and evaluate if you’re ready to battle that edge (or you simply feel lucky!). It’s not a sin to buck the house edge, but it takes skill, and most of all, luck.

Remember, gambling is fun. When it becomes work or when it becomes stressful or when you are no longer having a good time, it’s time to quit.


The 13 Signs of Problem Gambling

Gambling should be considered fun and entertainment. It sometimes comes at a price of losing the money you put aside for gambling, but is considered the price of entertainment. When gambling crosses over from a pastime to an obsession, things begin to go wrong. If you or anyone you know exhibits seven or more of these 13 signs, gambling could be becoming a problem.

1 Increasing the frequency of gambling activity.

2 Increasing the amount of money gambled.

3 Spending an excessive amount of time gambling at the expense of job or family time.

4 Being preoccupied with gambling or with obtaining money with which to gamble.

5 Gambling creates a special and intense pleasure, an aroused sense of being in “action.”

6 Continuing to gamble despite negative consequences such as large losses, financial problems, absence from work or family problems caused by gambling.

7 Gambling as a means to cope with loneliness, anger, stress, depression, etc.

8 “Chasing”—the urgent need to keep gambling often with larger bets—or the taking of greater risks in order to make up for a loss or series of losses.

9 Borrowing money to gamble, taking out secret loans, cashing in or borrowing on life insurance policies, or maximizing credit cards.

10 Bragging about wins but not talking about losses.

11 Frequent mood swings, higher when winning, lower when losing.

12 Gambling for longer periods of time or more money than originally planned.

13 Secretive behavior such as hiding lottery tickets and betting slips, having mail, bills, etc., sent to work, a P.O. box or other address.

By Patrick Roberts

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